Cycling is about "Safe exercise" and "Safe low-emission travel" The Health and Fitness objective is UNDERMINED if the means of exercise is UNSAFE! This blog STRONGLY OPPOSES certain reforms VicRoads is currently considering: “cyclists could be allowed to treat red lights as Give Way signs. And the same could also APPLY at pedestrian lights."
Also "PERMITTING cyclists, riding cautiously, to proceed past a stationary tram;" "allowing teenagers to ride on footpaths"(Herald Sun)PDowe

New Study Takes Aim At Male Suicide

The recipient of a fellowship from the Andrews Labor Government’s medical research strategy is set to tackle the high incidence of suicide in working men.

Initial studies show stressful working conditions are a major risk factor for mental health problems and suicide among men, and the research aims to find the reasons and link workplaces into health services which can help.

Dr Allison Milner has received a four-year fellowship to research the issue and develop solutions – one of three worth up to $800,000 each – granted under the Labor Government’s $20 million plan to ensure Victoria stays a world leader in health and medical research that has the power to change lives.

The fellowship is intended to develop initiatives and strategies, in association with workplaces and the business community, to reduce the incidence of mental health and rates of suicide in working age men by linking them into health services.

The other fellowship recipients include:

Dr Bernard Pope, to develop solutions to aid the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer

Associate Professor Ilana Ackerman, to research how and why hip and knee replacements can sometimes fail, and develop methods to minimise it

Last November, a new Science, Medical Research & Technology Panel was established to drive leadership and excellence in Victorian health and medical research, attracting more investment and jobs to Victoria.

The Labor Government is also investing in a range of suicide prevention measures across the state, with $27 million over four years for the Suicide Prevention Framework.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“It’s a sad indictment that too many men fail to seek help to deal with their mental health issues before it’s too late, and they often see suicide as their only recourse.”

“We’re determined to address suicide and a range of other health issues through our $20 million health and medical research program.”

Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Medical Research Frank McGuire

“The Andrews Labor Government’s investment is driving medical research that can lead to a real difference and has the power to change lives.”

“The three fellowships were selected from a quality field of more than 100 eligible applications, and went through a rigorous assessment and shortlisting process to prioritise the key research projects which we are confident will have a real and lasting impact on people’s health and wellbeing.”

The father of a teenager who killed himself after his girlfriend encouraged him in dozens of text messages, has cried during her sentencing, accusing the young woman of "exploiting" his son's weaknesses.

WOMAN SENTENCED FOR TEXT ENCOURAGED SUICIDE

VIDEOMichelle Carter has been jailed for 15 months for involuntary manslaughter of Conrad Roy III.

Michelle Carter, who encouraged her suicidal boyfriend to kill himself in dozens of text messages and told him to "get back in" a truck filled with toxic gas, has been sentenced to 15 months in jail for involuntary manslaughter.

The Massachusetts woman was convicted in June by a judge who said her final instruction to Conrad Roy III caused his death.

Michelle Car has been sentenced to 15 months in jail for involuntary manslaughter. Picture: AAP

Carter was 17 when the 18-year-old Roy was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in July 2014.

Juvenile Court judge Lawrence Moniz on Thursday gave Carter a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence but said she had to serve only 15 months of that. He also sentenced her to five years of probation.

The victim's father Conrad Roy Jr wept while reading his statement in court.

Conrad Roy recorded a series of videos before his death. Photo: AAP

"We all felt he was heading in the right direction and over the worst of it," he said of his son's depression.

"He had such a bright future and Michelle Carter exploited my son's weaknesses.

"She used him as a pawn and she has not shown any remorse. Where was her humanity? How he could she behave so viciously?"

TEXTING SUICIDE VICTIM'S AUNT ON MICHELLE CARTER'S GUILTY CONVICTION

VIDEO"I'd be happy if I never heard her name or saw her face ever again," Conrad Roy's aunt Kim Bozzi told ABC News.

In dozens of text messages, Carter had urged Roy to follow through on his talk of taking his own life. "The time is right and you are ready... just do it babe," Carter wrote in a text the day he killed himself.

The sensational trial was closely watched on social media, in part because of the insistent tone of Carter's text messages.

"You can't think about it. You just have to do it. You said you were gonna do it. Like I don't get why you aren't," Carter wrote in one text.

Michelle Carter's text messages are displayed in court. Picture: AP

Assistant District Attorney Maryclare Flynn told the court "Michelle Carter - her actions - killed Conrad Roy. She ended his life to better her own. She has been convicted of a very serious crime that merits serious punishment."

In convicting Carter, the judge focused his ruling on Carter telling Roy to "get back in" after he climbed out of his truck as it was filling with carbon monoxide and told her he was afraid.

The judge said those words constituted "wanton and reckless conduct" under the manslaughter statute.

Carter and Roy met in Florida in 2012 while both were on vacation with their families. After that, they only met in person a handful of times. Their relationship consisted mainly of texting.

Michelle Carter was convicted in June by a judge who said her final instruction to Conrad Roy III caused his death. Picture: AP